Scholes’ red-hot form has Fergie over the moon

PAUL SCHOLES is living up to his Old Trafford tribute song by scoring goals and Alex Ferguson does not want him to stop.

Scholes is currently enjoying one of the hottest goal streaks of his career.

The header which pulled Manchester United level against Chelsea on Saturday was the fifth game in succession the 28-year-old had found the net and took him onto 12 for the season, just two behind the best tally of his professional career.

A scoring sensation as a junior when he smashed a series of club records, Scholes has never lost the knack of hitting the target even though he has largely been deployed in a midfield role for both club and country.

However, his recent run suggests he has adjusted to the new role just behind a lone striker which Ferguson earmarked for him last year.

The dip in form of 12 months ago are just a memory and his manager is urging the Oldham-born player to keep up the good work and help United reach the Worthington Cup final at holders Blackburn's expense tonight.

"Paul has scored in his last five games and I hope he scores in the next five as well," said the United boss.

"He is having a great season and the goals he is getting are all important ones. We are only in January and he is only two behind his best season, which is a superb return. There is a great maturity about him now. It doesn't matter where I ask him to play, he gets on with it and does a great job."

It was Scholes who grabbed United's opener in the first leg a fortnight ago, only for Blackburn to peg them back almost immediately through David Thompson.

With all United's first-team squad, except for broken leg victim Quinton Fortune, now fit, Scholes is one of the few players guaranteed a starting berth at Ewood Park.

Juan Sebastian Veron and Ryan Giggs are pressing for recalls after starting Saturday's game on the bench and Ferguson will hope Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suffered no reaction to a minor knee injury he suffered against the Londoners.

Veron stepped off the bench to set up provide Diego Forlan's last-gasp winner and he could be preferred to Phil Neville, withdrawn at half-time against Claudio Ranieri's side as Ferguson sought a greater attacking edge.

The Argentinian's contribution might be required again as United face a side who beat them in the Premiership at Ewood shortly before Christmas when Garry Flitcroft grabbed a first-half winner.

Not that Ferguson should be too concerned. After all, the Scot has never lost a domestic semi-final in over 15 years at the Old Trafford helm. "We know semi-finals can be tricky but we have a good record in them over the years," he said.

"The first leg was interesting because Blackburn played the better football yet we had more of a goal threat. Our players found the surface difficult, so hopefully we can do a bit better. Blackburn have some good confident players and it won't be easy for us. It won't be easy for them either though and the tie is set up nicely."

Of importance to Ferguson is the way his side have started to steal victories in the final minutes.

Chelsea have now been beaten twice in a month with goals in the last 10 minutes, Sunderland were leading until they were cruelly swamped on New Year's Day, while Everton and Southampton have also left empty-handed after entering the final five minutes on level terms.

"There is a determination about us now that old will to win is back again," he said. "What we have seen in the last few weeks epitomises what Manchester United is all about.

"No-one gives in we will play to the last kick of the ball and our opponents know that." Souness' side will approach tonight's game with an air of confidence, having beaten United in a pre-Christmas Premiership fixture courtesy of Garry Flitcroft's first-half winner.

The Rovers boss has stuck by bad-boy defender Andy Todd, despite his dismissal against Birmingham at the weekend for kicking Dugarry.